Chapter 146 Public opinion ferments
Afternoon.
A piece of news that Zhao Duan had been arrested and brought to justice spread like wildfire in all major government offices.
It attracted countless people's attention. Compared with officials at all levels who were cautious in their words and actions and walked on thin ice, scholars and students who were closely related to the court talked loudly.
"Real or false? Isn't that Zhao Duan a real person? Why was he suddenly imprisoned?"
"Hmph, who made him offend Zhou Tingwei? If not, how would there be the impeachment this morning?"
"But isn't he the favored face of the saint? The saint has shown favoritism many times in the past, why this time..."
"Oh, favored? When his affair with the Wang family's concubine is exposed, do you think His Majesty won't care? How is that possible? This is retribution."
"Yes, this thief has a notorious reputation and is domineering. As the saying goes, those who do too much injustice will be killed. Now he is finally going to perish. Congratulations, there is one less sycophant and traitor in the Yu Dynasty!"
"You're still too young... Once you gain power, you don't know how high the sky is..."
There are those who gloat over misfortunes, there are those who applaud and applaud, and there are also those who comment like dad...
People quickly accepted this result because it was very common sense.
Since ancient times, which emperor would tolerate a concubine stealing a man behind his back?
Everyone found will be killed without mercy.
As the empress, Xu Zhenguan will be no exception.
Even if it is said that Zhao Duan has some tricks that can be used.
But if the word "betrayal" is labeled, no matter how useful a minister is, the empress will not show mercy.
Zhou Cheng's attack was not only trying to drive a wedge between the "emotions" between the two parties.
What's more, it makes the empress realize that Zhao Duan deceived and betrayed her.
"Brother Lu, this time the man named Zhao is completely finished."
In the duty room of Dali Temple, an official sighed.
Lu Zhi, who was once captured and released by Zhao Duan, was forced to hold the position of "judgment" for many years due to his personality, but he shook his head and said:
"There is something wrong with this case. The complainant was obviously driven by others, and the process of handling the case by Mr. Tingwei did not conform to the standards..."
"Shhh!" The colleague beside him was startled and urged: "What a mouthful you are. Don't harm anyone. Besides, you haven't always criticized and been hostile to Zhao Duan? Wouldn't it be a good thing if he fell?"
Lu Zhi shook his head, scratched his neck and said: "One code means another code. Zhao Duan has a bad character. As a minister, although I have a humble position, I should remonstrate with him and bring him to justice.
But in this case... the existing evidence is not enough to make a decision. How can we punish him with the confusion case just because we are hostile to him? I am not ashamed of such behavior..."
Colleagues shook their heads and evaded:
You deserve to die and not be promoted... Could it be that you can't see that this is Lord Tingwei's revenge?
…
…
Zhao family.
The sun was setting in the west, and the weather was good today. Eugene Hua and his daughter were sitting in the bedroom embroidering sachets.
In the end, she agreed to her daughter's proposal, and each mother and daughter embroidered a sachet for Zhao Duan.
As a gift for Qiqiao Festival.
Eugene Flower was sitting at the table, her plump body clad in a long dark green satin skirt was like a plump white carp.
Now she lowered her head, tied a knot nimbly with her fingers, bit off the excess silk thread with her silver teeth, looked at the majestic sachet, embroidered with blue clouds, and nodded with satisfaction.
Then he looked at his daughter: "How about yours?"
The girl, who is slender, elegant and refined, and whose facial features are vaguely similar to her mother's when she was a girl, also received the last stitches:
"alright."
Zhao Pan picked up the bright-colored sachet and handed it to his mother, feeling a little dissatisfied:
"Mom, there are a few stitches that are not very good."
But Eugene Flower was smiling:
"It doesn't matter, I'll fix it for you later. I guess your brother won't care, it's all your wishes after all."
Zhao Pan said "Yes" softly, with a hint of expectation.
After getting along for a long time, the mother and daughter finally confirmed that Zhao Duan had indeed changed for the better.
Eugene is even more pleased that her daughter has gradually accepted her stepson again. The darkest period of the Zhao family has passed and everything is getting better.
These days, she has a smile on her face every day.
At this time, the old housekeeper outside suddenly ran in in a hurry, shouting:
"Madam! Miss!"
The mother and daughter looked at each other, put down the sachet, and walked out:
"Why are you so flustered?"
The old housekeeper cried loudly:
"It's not good! Dalang was sent to prison, and he was told that he would not survive!"
boom……
It was as if Eugene was struck by lightning, his mind went blank, he felt like the world was spinning, his legs became weak, and he fell straight to the ground.
Zhao Pan was stunned on the spot, with the words "going to jail" and "not surviving" echoing in his mind, as if he had lost his soul.
…
…
Metropolitan Procuratorate, back office lobby.
Yuan Li welcomed a group of uninvited guests just as the sunset was about to set.
"Ma Yan? What are you..."
Yuan Li put his hands behind his hands and walked out of the hall, looking at the group of people in Jinyi who were cheering outside.
Most of them are members of Lihuatang, led by Qian Kerou.
The leader was the eunuch Ma Yan, with a long and slender face and a cold and violent temperament.
"Mr. Yuan, it's rude to come here uninvited." Ma Yan cupped his hands. Although his expression remains the same, those who are familiar with him can be keenly aware that his expression is vaguely mixed with emotions such as anxiety and worry.
This is extremely rare for Ma Yan.
"Everyone, you are here for Zhao Duan." Yuan Li invited Ma Yan to take a seat in the hall.
Ma Yan pressed his hands on his knees and sat upright: "I know that his arrest is His Majesty's order. As the chief official, I should avoid suspicion, but I couldn't resist the boys from Lihuatang who came to my door to plead, so I had to come for a visit. "
"Well, that's right." Yuan Li looked calm and didn't want to point it out.
King Ma Yama has always been strict in his rule, how could he be forced by a group of lower-class Jinyi?
It was nothing more than an excuse he came up with.
Yuan Li said calmly:
"Since you know this is the holy will, you should understand that I will not open any convenient door just because you are here."
Ma Yan smiled bitterly and said: "I don't dare to embarrass Mr. Yuan, let alone seek favoritism from Mr. Yuan. I just hope that Mr. Yuan will be fair and treat everyone equally, and don't give convenience to Dali Temple."
Yuan Li understood what he meant and said calmly: "You can rest assured that Zhao Jisi will only be detained in Taiwan Prison and will not receive any punishment."
Ma Yan nodded, cupped his hands and thanked him: "With Mr. Yuan's words, I feel relieved."
Yuan Li asked curiously: "I have always heard that you are cold-faced and selfless. Why are you running for that kid today?"
In the morning, Ma Yan spoke for Zhao Duan, which can be interpreted as protecting his subordinates, which is what he should do.
But at the risk of being disliked by His Majesty, coming here at the cusp of this storm is beyond the scope of a superior or a subordinate.
Ma Yan was silent for a moment and said:
"Mr. Yuan knows that I come from a religious background. Although this boy has repeatedly broken the rules and caused trouble for me, in the final analysis... he has also called me senior brother."
Yuan Li smiled lightly and served tea to see the guests off.
Qian Kerou and others in Lihuatang reluctantly retreated after learning that Zhao Duan would not be tortured to extract a confession.
Their power is too humble, and they can bully small officials, but in the face of such a big thing, this is the only thing they can do.
…
Taiwan prison.
Wearing a double-breasted Tsing Yi, Yuan Li has a handsome face and a vicissitude of life in his eyes, walking in a dark dungeon.
There were no guards around to follow him.
When he walked outside a separate cell and looked inside with the help of firelight, there was a hint of surprise in his eyes.
In the cell, Zhao Duan was seen changing into prison uniform, sitting on the floor, reading with the help of the torch beam, and he was very absorbed in it.
Not only was there no trace of fear or worry, but there was a look of joy and contentment between his brows and eyes.
"You are still holding the scroll in the cage. Rather than saying that you are a military attache, I think you are more like a scholar." Yuan Li praised.
"Mr. Yuan!"
Zhao Duan then raised his head, stood up with a smile and saluted:
"There are a lot of noises outside, too many chores, and too many things to worry about, but it's not as good as here where I can calm down and study."
Yuan Li glanced at the title of the book:
"Book of Laws? I only read this book when I was in prison. Do I think I can use it to break the situation?"
I said I was researching, do you believe how many years Zhou Cheng can be sentenced... Zhao Duan shook his head and said:
"I just happened to read this book."
This sentence is true.
Recently, he has been supplementing the rules and regulations of Dayu's governance, studying the dynasty's government decrees, economics, military affairs and other miscellaneous matters, including legal items.
And compare it with the various dynasties of the previous life in the mind, the original intention is to speed up the understanding of the Dayu Dynasty.
However, I unexpectedly discovered that there are many areas for improvement.
Of course Yuan Li didn't know that the real warrior who was born as a soldier of the imperial army in front of him would have the strategy of ruling a dynasty in another world for five thousand years in his heart.
She ignored the topic, stared at him, and said: "Ma Yan came to me just now... and said that the gang of assassins under you went to ask for help, and begged him to entrust me to ensure that you will not be punished in Taiwan Prison.
You can see that they are worried about you. Nowadays, the outside world is spreading rumors that you have fallen out of favor and are dead. Many people want you to die. "
Zhao Duan was silent, this was something he had expected.
Yuan Li paused briefly and suddenly said:
"But seeing that you are still in the mood to study, I know that they will be disappointed."
Zhao Duan lowered his eyes:
"Mr. Yuan looks up to me, but I'm just pretending to be calm."
"Really?" Yuan Li smiled:
"I told you the day before yesterday that once Zhou Cheng takes action, it will be a fatal blow. You must have realized it by now. You still have a chance and choose to ask me to take action. I can help you resolve all current crises at the same price. Once it's done, I'll take all the credit."
Zhao Duan said respectfully:
"Please forgive me for still refusing."
Yuan Li's smile deepened:
"So, under such a situation, you still choose to play this game on your own? You know, once the three-division trial is held in two days, Zhou Cheng will prepare all the evidence, and even I will not be able to save you."
Zhao Duan raised his head and smiled:
"But Mr. Yuan also believes that I can bring down Zhou Cheng, right? Otherwise, he would not give me another chance to choose now that I have fallen out of favor and become a prisoner."
Yuan Li smiled, turned around and left, leaving behind a sentence:
"I look forward to your comeback. By the way, people from Dali Temple are here to interrogate you."
When he walked, he seemed to be walking on the clouds.
Russian qing.
Zhao Duan, who was sitting in the cage, heard chaotic footsteps approaching.
Then, in the firelight, He Zheng's bruised and arrogant face appeared:
"Zhao Duan, how does it feel to be a prisoner?"
(End of chapter)